Micah Jonah
February 22, 2026
American tennis star, Jessica Pegula delivered a commanding display to defeat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in straight sets to win the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday.
Pegula secured a 6 to 2, 6 to 4 victory over Svitolina in the final of the WTA 1000 event, ending the Ukrainian’s unbeaten run in finals at that level. The triumph marks Pegula’s 10th career title on the tour.
The world number five wasted no time asserting dominance, racing to a 3 to 0 lead in the opening set. Her precise groundstrokes and solid service games kept Svitolina pinned behind the baseline as she sealed the first set comfortably.
Svitolina, who had previously won all four of her WTA 1000 finals, struggled to find rhythm as Pegula maintained control in the second set. The American broke decisively in the fifth game and held her nerve to close out the match with an ace.
The victory makes Pegula, who turns 32 this week, the second oldest woman to win the Dubai title after fellow American Venus Williams achieved the feat in 2014 at age 33.
Speaking after the match, Pegula described the win as a perfect early birthday gift, expressing delight at claiming the trophy after previously falling short in recent WTA 1000 finals.
The result further strengthens Pegula’s standing on the women’s tour as the new season gathers momentum.
